O’Donnell seals victory for Benford’s troops at Oxton

A GOOD weekend for Southport Hockey Club started off with Robin Benford’s first team coming away from Oxton with a 3-0 victory.

Missing Australian Al Tremayne through injury and Dave Carter through overseas commitments, Southport knew they would have to put in a good performance against an Oxton side just below them in the table.

Southport dominated the game from early on, with success coming from the roaming runs of George Finnegan and Lawrence Allan at full backs, while Rick Kay and midfield partner Ste Dodd started to boss the game and play it at their own pace.

It was not long before Southport took the lead through a John O’Donnell straight strike from a short corner.

Skipper Benford doubled the lead shortly after, when some intricate link up play between Matt Webb and Mike Gray saw Benford fed through one-on-one with the Oxton keeper and a deceptive finish followed.

After the second Southport goal, the home side enjoyed a 10 minute spell of possession and pressure.

But this was well dealt with by man-of-the-match Oli Judd and his defensive partner Andy Gartside. At half time, Southport went in 2-0 up.

The second half saw more Oxton pressure, yet the Southport defence once again lapped this up without any great difficulties. Both Allan and Webb went close from close range before John O’Donnell grabbed his second and Southport’s third from another short corner to keep the scoreline stayed at 3-0 until the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Adele Jones’ ladies first team took on Lancaster University on Saturday.

They came home with all three points in an excellent game, which finished 4-3.

Top scorer Emma Partridge grabbed all four goals taking her tally to 10 after six games.

But it was the captain Jones who got the game off to a flying start, with a skilful run the length of the pitch, passing six players before picking out an unmarked Partridge in the D, who clinically finished first time past the Lancaster keeper.

Lancaster then came back into the game with an equaliser from a short corner to make the score was 1- 1 at half time.

Debutant Amy Caton had a fantastic second half, showing good skill down the left and it was her pass to Katie Lester that set up the second goal for Southport.

Lester drove round the back of the defence and picked out Partridge, who waited for the keeper to charge out before coolly knocking it past her to make it 2-1.

Lancaster then once again seemed to gain some momentum and scored a second equaliser again from a short corner.

At 2-2, Southport went up a gear, determined to win the game. Partridge grabbed her hat-trick from a well-worked penalty corner routine after good work from Helen Wilson and Janet Morton.

Southport’s fourth goal was a counter attack from Jayne Almond in space, who laid it off to Partridge.

She then passed the defender, leaving only the keeper to beat and, with a brilliant reverse stick shot, found the bottom corner.

The game then became stretched as Lancaster tried to get back in and eventually scored after a scramble in the D. For the final 10 minutes, Southport showed excellent defensive qualities, clearing away all danger until the final whistle.

In an exciting game at Greenbank, Simon Spalding’s second team grabbed an impressive three points against a strong Alderly Edge side.

Two coolly taken goals from Andy Fearns and a last minute winner from James Gartside saw the second team grab their third win of the season. Elsewhere, Southport Ladies second team came away from Sprigfield’s with a credible 2-2 draw.

After being 2-0 down at half time, goals from Vicki Wallis and Amelia Peacock saw Southport equalise and grab a point.

Craig Wilson’s third team lost 4-0 away to Liverpool Sefton despite another excellent display from John Eyres in goal.

The Ladies third team lost 12-1 away at Brooklands, with the scoreline not reflecting the effort and attitude of the players.

Tony Tudor’s fourth team grabbed their first three points of the season after a thrilling 5-4 victory over Leyland Foxes. Youngsters Ryan Baker and Josh Caton scored their first senior goals for the club in what was an excellent display by both of the young pair.

Sam Harris-Wright and the ever-improving Sam Howarth goals saw the score at 4- 4, while Rob Glaysher grabbed the winner in the dying minutes.

Tam Darkes-Seddon in goal was also a key performer, keeping out late Leyland attacks. But Dan Wakefield’s fifth team were not so fortunate, as they were beaten 4-1 by West Derby.